PIB Summary- 15th November, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Technical Textiles

Context

Recently, the Ministry of Textiles has approved 12 research projects under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) increasing the total number of approved research projects to 168.  

About Technical Textiles

• The Technical Textiles are defined as Textile material and products manufactured primarily for their Technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative characteristics.
• The Technical textiles include textiles for automotive applications, medical textiles (e.g., implants), geotextiles (reinforcement of embankments), agrotextiles (textiles for crop protection), and protective clothing (e.g., heat and radiation protection for fire fighter clothing, molten metal protection for welders, stab protection and bulletproof vests, and spacesuits).

Significance and Potential Applications of Technical Textiles

• The Technical Textiles are being used globally for last several decades. These materials have provided innovative projects.
• Even while Technical Textiles have been extensively used in developed as well as many developing countries, India has yet to capitalize the technical, economical and environmental benefits on large scale.
• The Various parts of India are subjected to floods and environmental degradation. In some of the terrains, the flood management and control can rely on Technical Textiles tubes, containers and bags.
• The Technical Textiles have been found to perform better than concrete as water protection component because of permeability, flexibility and ease of underwater placement.

About National Technical Textiles Mission

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the establishment of a National Technical Textiles Mission to help India position itself as a “global leader“ in technical textiles.
• The Cabinet has approved a total outlay of Rs 1,480 crore for the project, which will be implemented over four years (2020-2024) and aims to promote research, export and skill development in this sector.
• An Export Promotion Council for Technical Textiles will be set up for export promotion of technical textiles and ensuring 10% average growth in exports per year upto 2023-24.

Objectives:

• The main aim is to get India the highest position in Technical Textiles at a global level
• This mission also aims at improving the penetration level of the technical textiles in the country. It must also be noted that the penetration level of technical textiles is low in India at 5-10%, against 30-70% in advanced countries. 
• The authorities aim at increasing the global market for Indian technical textiles
• To simplify the objectives of the mission, it has been divided into four component as well
• The Mission will focus on the usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, programmes of the country including strategic sectors.

Exercise Sea Vigil

Context

The Indian Navy is set to conduct the fourth edition of the ‘Pan-India’ Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-24’ on 20 & 21 Nov 24.

About Exercise Sea Vigil:

• The National Level Coastal Defence Exercise was envisioned in 2018 as a tool of validation to a series of measures instituted towards enhancing maritime security since ’26/11′.
• The concept of ‘Sea Vigil’ will activate the Coastal Security apparatus throughout India and assess the all-encompassing Coastal Defence mechanism.
• This fourth edition of Ex Sea Vigil involves 06 Ministries and 21 Organisations/ agencies.
• This exercise will focus on the build-up of security for coastal assets like ports, oil rigs, Single Point Moorings, Cable Landing Points and critical coastal infrastructure including the coastal population.
• This year participation by other Services (Indian Army and Air Force) and planned deployment of a large number of ships and aircraft have enhanced the tempo of the exercise.
• The exercise will activate the entire infrastructure of coastal security and all maritime stakeholders, including fisherfolk and other people along the coast, as a whole.
• Sensitizing coastal communities on maritime security is one of the objectives of the exercise, and so the inclusion of the fisher community, coastal populace, and students from NCC and Bharat Scouts and Guides will contribute to the zeal of the effort.
• Exercise Sea Vigil, organized by the Indian Navy is a national-level endeavour and an integrated assessment of India’s maritime defense and security capabilities.
• It is a precursor to the Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which the Indian Navy conducts biennially.